Window-wiping device, particularly for a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

A windshield wiper device ( 10 ), in particular for a motor vehicle, is proposed, with at least one wiper bearing ( 14 ), which includes a bearing housing ( 24 ), [and] a wiper shaft ( 22 ), which is positioned in the bearing housing ( 24 ) and bears a wiper arm ( 28 ) on a first end ( 26 ). An element ( 42 ), which axially fixes the wiper shaft ( 22 ), is radially attachable to the wiper shaft ( 22 ).

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a windshield wiper device for a motor vehicle.

Numerous windshield wiper devices, which feature a wiper bearing thatincludes at least one bearing housing in which a wiper shaft ispositioned, which is axially fixed by means of an element and bears awiper arm on a first end, are already known, e.g., from DE 199 03 140A1. In this connection, the axial fixation is embodied in such a waythat the element is deformed with the effect of force on the wiper armor on the first end of the wiper shaft under the absorption of energy.If a pedestrian now impacts the wiper arm or the wiper shaft in the caseof an accident, these are able to recede, which can result in a lesserinjury to the pedestrian. The fact that the element absorbs energy alsoprevents the pedestrian from impacting the vehicle body with the fullenergy because of the receding of the wiper arms. For this reason, theelements are embodied as thin-walled, plate-shaped sheet metal sleevesthat are arranged in series, which can also have a corrugated area.However, these types of elements are expensive and cost-intensive tomanufacture and cannot be repaired after an impact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The windshield wiper device has the advantage that an attachableembodiment of the element produces the possibility of pedestrian impactprotection for windshield wiper devices that is very cost-effective,efficient and simple to dimension. In addition, the attachabilityresults in a particularly simple manufacture and repair of thewindshield wiper device, making further cost savings possible in termsof assembly.

It is especially advantageous if the element is arranged in such a waythat it is deformable, in particular compressible, with the effect of aforce in the axial direction on the first end of the wiper shaft. Inthis way, the energy during an impact is absorbed especially well.

In a particularly simple and cost-effective design the element isarranged between the bearing housing and a projection on the wipershaft.

In this case, it is especially advantageous if the projection isembodied to be disk-shaped and includes the wiper shaft so that theenergy from the wiper shaft can be released on a very large area of theelement.

In a simple variation of the embodiment the projection is embodied to bea single piece with the wiper shaft.

It is especially cost-effective if the element is embodied as astamped/bent part or is made of coiled wire.

Especially little construction space is required if the elementessentially fits snuggly around the wiper shaft.

Furthermore, it should be viewed as advantageous if the element islocked on the bearing housing, in particular via internal stress. As aresult, it is possible to dispense completely with additional fasteningelements.

The element is protected against corrosion, thereby decisivelyincreasing the service life of the windshield wiper device.

Moreover, it is particularly advantageous if the bearing housingfeatures safety means that protects the element from being twisted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One exemplary embodiment of the invention is depicted in the drawingsand explained in more detail in the following description.

The drawings show:

FIG. 1 A perspective representation of a windshield wiper device inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 A schematic section through a wiper bearing in accordance withthe invention before the effect of force.

FIG. 3 A perspective representation of a wiper bearing of a windshieldwiper conception in accordance with the invention as well as an elementbefore it is fastened to the wiper bearing.

FIG. 4 A perspective representation of a wiper bearing of a windshieldwiper device in accordance with the invention with a mounted element.

FIGS. 5 a, 5 b A schematic representation of an element of a windshieldwiper device in accordance with the invention.

FIGS. 6 a, 6 b An element of a windshield wiper device in accordancewith the invention in a variation of FIG. 5 a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of a windshield wiper device10 in accordance with the invention. This is comprised essentially of asupport tube 12, which bears a wiper bearing 14 on each of the ends ofits longitudinal extension. In addition, a motor support 16 that bears awiper motor 18 is fastened on the support tube 12. This wiper motor 18drives wiper shafts 22, which are positioned in the bearing housings 24of the wiper bearing 14, via thrust rods 20.

FIG. 2 depicts in detail a schematic cross-section of a wiper bearing ofa windshield wiper device 10 in accordance with the invention.

The wiper shaft 22 is positioned in the bearing housing 24 of the wiperbearing 14. It has a first end 26, at which it is connected in atorque-proof manner with a wiper arm 28 that is shown only partiallyhere. On the other end 30 of its longitudinal extension, the wiper shaft22 is connected in a torque-proof manner with a drive crank 32, which isin turn connected in an articulated manner with the thrust rod 20 (FIG.1). The wiper shaft 22 also features a projection 34, which is embodiedas a disk and is fixed axially on the wiper shaft 22. The projection 34can be embodied as a single piece with the wiper shaft 22 or can also beembodied as a slip-on disk, for example, which is fixed axially by meansof a snap ring 35 in the direction of the wiper arm 28. In onevariation, it is also conceivable that the projection 34 be composed atleast partially of a circular recess into which a snap ring is inserted.

The wiper shaft 22 projects out of the front side 36 of the bearinghousing 24 and features a thread on its first end 26, onto which thefastening element 38 that is embodied as a screw nut is screwed in orderto fasten the wiper arm 28. Depending upon the embodiment of the wiperarm 28, an additional fastening piece 40 is also arranged between thefastening element 38 and the wiper arm 28.

An element 42 is arranged between the front side 36 of the bearinghousing 24 and the projection 34 of the wiper shaft 22. This element 42is attachable radially and laterally to the wiper shaft 22 and isembodied of stamped and bent sheet metal.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective representation of wiper bearing 14 on asupport tube 12 of a windshield wiper device 10 in accordance with theinvention. With its bearing housing 24, the wiper bearing 14 carries thewiper shaft 22, which can be connected on its first end 26 to a wiperarm (not shown). On its other end 30, the wiper shaft is connected in atorque-proof manner with the drive crank 32 so that it can be put intomotion itself via the movement of the wiper motor 18. The wiper bearing14 features a collar 43, which extends annularly around the wiper shaft22 and serves to accommodate the element 42. To prevent the element 42from rotating around the rotational axis of the wiper shaft 22, thecollar 43 features two ribs 45 as safety means that are arranged in sucha way that the radial play of the element 42, which is shown here in anexploded manner next to the wiper bearing 14, is inhibited orrestricted.

The wiper shaft 22 features the projection 34 in the area if its firstend 26, which supports itself in a mounted position on the element 42.In this case, the height of the collar 43 is selected so that itcorresponds to the height of a compressed element 42. Therefore, thisyields optimal positioning of the wiper shaft 22, on the one hand, andmaximum utilization of the dampening path of the element 42, on theother. Naturally, the collar 43 can also have another suitable height;it should only be less than the height of the element 42. In a variationof the invention, the drive crank 32 itself can form the projection 34by the drive crank 32 being arranged in the area of the first end 26 ofthe wiper shaft. In a further variation, the element can also beembodied as a single piece with the collar 43, or with the wiper bearing14 or with the drive crank 32.

The support tube 12 with a wiper bearing 14 of a windshield wiper device10 in accordance with the invention is depicted completely mounted inFIG. 4 together with the element 42.

The element 42 is placed laterally on the collar 43 of the wiper bearing14 and fixed radially via the ribs 45. As a result, the element 42 gripsaround the collar 43 in a clamp-like manner. The element 42 is axiallyfixed, on the one hand, by the projection 34 of the wiper shaft 22, and,on the other hand, by the support 47 on the bearing housing 24 of thewiper bearing 14 itself. The support 47 is typically formed by fasteningelements of the wiper bearing 14, or is embodied as a single piece withthe wiper bearing.

FIGS. 5 a, 5 b and 6 a, 6 b show different embodiments of an element 42of a windshield wiper device 10 in accordance with the invention. Forreasons of simplicity, in these figures the element 42 is shown not yetbent in a clamp-like manner, but still in an even, flat form, like whatis typically found in the manufacturing process. FIG. 5 a shows a simpleelement 42, which is bent from a stable wire. Alternating back-and-forthbending at specific intervals of the wire yields a meander-likestructure with a spring-like character with the height h1 of element 42.FIG. 5 b depicts the element from FIG. 5 a in a compressed togetherposition. The individual areas now fit directly and snugly together sothat the element has height h2, which is typically less than height h1.This height h2 is typically also the height, which the collar 43 fromFIG. 3 has. Of course, this type of shape can also be achieved bystamping. FIG. 6 a depicts a variation of the element 42 from FIG. 5.The element 42 shown here is stamped out of sheet metal and/or punchedso that closed hollow areas 51 form. The element 42 from FIG. 6 a isdepicted in a compressed manner in FIG. 6 b.

As mentioned at the outset of the last paragraph, the elements 42depicted in FIGS. 5 a, 5 b and 6 a, 6 b are still bent in a cylindricalmanner around an axis, which lies in its deformation direction, in sucha way that a slot or an opening still remains, with which the element 42can be placed on the collar 43 of the bearing housing 24. In this sense,the elements 42 are not completely rotationally symmetrical. After beingplaced on the collar 43, the element 42 locks on the wiper bearing viaits internal stress, similar to a snap ring. After a deformation, theelement 42 can also be removed again very easily from the wiper bearing14 in this manner and replaced by a new element without the windshieldwiper device 10 having to be dismantled. Optimal energy absorption ofthe element 42 is achieved by a complete utilization of the spacebetween the stopping face 47 and the projection 34. The elements 42shown in FIGS. 6 a, 6 b can be manufactured very easily by stamping froma sheet metal strip, which can then also still be bent following this.In this way, a defined rigidity can also be adjusted in a simple manner.In a variation, the element 42 must naturally not only be bentcylindrical, but can also be suitably bent elliptically or in anotherway. These types of elements 42 can be manufactured most simply usingtransfer presses or in follow-on composite tools. The element 42 ispreferably embodied of steel material with corrosion protection, e.g.,hot galvanizing, but can also be embodied of zinc or aluminum sheet, ofplastic or of a ceramic. If the element 42 is coiled out of wire, it ispossible to immediately produce the final geometry, i.e., thecylindrical geometry, in one manufacturing step.

1. Windshield wiper device (10), with at least one wiper bearing (14),which includes a bearing housing (24), a wiper shaft (22), which ispositioned in the bearing housing (24) and bears a wiper arm (28) on afirst end (26), and an element (42), which axially fixes the wiper shaft(22), characterized in that the element (42) defines a radial openingsuch that the element (42) is radially attachable to the wiper shaft(22) or the bearing housing (24), and in that the element (42) isaxially compressible with the effect of a force (F) in the axialdirection on the first end (26) of the wiper shaft (22) thereby enablingaxial movement of the shaft into the housing.
 2. Windshield wiper device(10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the wiper shaft (22)features a projection (34) and the element (42) is arranged between thebearing housing (24) and the projection (34).
 3. Windshield wiper device(10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the projection (34) isembodied to be disk-shaped and includes the wiper shaft (22). 4.Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in thatthe projection (34) is embodied to be a single piece with the wipershaft (22).
 5. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 1,characterized in that the element (42) is one of a stamped part, a bentpart and coiled wire.
 6. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim5, characterized in that the element (42) includes acircumferentially-extending first leg having a first end, a second endand an intermediate portion between the first end and the second end,and a circumferentially-extending second leg having a first end, asecond end and an intermediate portion between the first end and thesecond end, the first leg being axially spaced from the second leg, theintermediate portion of the first leg being separate from theintermediate portion of the second leg such that an opening is definedbetween the intermediate portion of the first leg and the intermediateportion of the second leg, one end of the first leg being connected toone end of the second leg, when the element (42) is compressed, thefirst leg being axially movable toward to the second leg therebydecreasing a size of the opening between the intermediate portion of thefirst leg and the intermediate portion of the second leg.
 7. Windshieldwiper device (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that theelement (42) is a stamped part providing the first leg and the secondleg.
 8. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 6, characterizedin that the element (42) is a bent part providing the first leg and thesecond leg.
 9. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 6,characterized in that the element (42) is coiled wire providing thefirst leg and the second leg.
 10. Windshield wiper device (10) accordingto claim 1, characterized in that the element (42) extends around acircumference of the wiper shaft (22) by more than 180 degrees, inparticular by more than 220 degrees, preferably by more than 270degrees.
 11. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 1,characterized in that the element (42) is locked on the bearing housing(24) or on the wiper shaft (22), in particular via internal stress. 12.Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe element (42) is protected against corrosion, in particular is hotgalvanized.
 13. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 1,characterized in that the bearing housing (24) features safety means(45) that keep the element (42) from being twisted.
 14. Windshield wiperdevice (10) according to claim 13, characterized in that the element(42) includes, on at least one circumferential side of the radialopening, an axially-extending, circumferentially-facing end surfaceportion, and in that the safety means (45) includes an axially-extendingradial rib (45) circumferentially engageable with the end surfaceportion of the element (42) to inhibit movement of the element (42)about the wiper shaft (22) or the bearing housing (24).
 15. Windshieldwiper device (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that a collar(43) supports the rib (45), the collar (43) being provided by thebearing (14), the collar (43) having a height less than a height of theelement (42) when the element (42) is not compressed.
 16. Windshieldwiper device (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that theelement (42) includes, on opposite circumferential sides of the radialopening, respective axially-extending, circumferentially-facing endsurface portions, and the safety means (45) includes a pair ofaxially-extending radial ribs (45), each rib (45) beingcircumferentially engageable with an associated end surface portion ofthe element (42) to inhibit movement of the element (42) about the wipershaft (22) or the bearing housing (24).
 17. Windshield wiper device(10), with at least one wiper bearing (14), which includes a bearinghousing (24), a wiper shaft (22), which is positioned in the bearinghousing (24) and bears a wiper arm (28) on a first end (26), and anelement (42), which axially fixes the wiper shaft (22), characterized inthat the element (42) defines a radial opening such that the element(42) is radially attachable to one of the wiper shaft (22) and thebearing housing (24), the element (42) including, on at least onecircumferential side of the radial opening, an axially-extending,circumferentially-facing end surface portion, the element (42) beingdeformable with the effect of a force (F) in the axial direction on thefirst end (26) of the wiper shaft (22) thereby enabling axial movementof the shaft into the housing, and characterized in that the bearinghousing includes an axially-extending radial rib (45) circumferentiallyengageable with the end surface portion of the element (42) to inhibitmovement of the element (42) about the wiper shaft (22) or the bearinghousing (24).
 18. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 17,characterized in that, on opposite circumferential sides of the radialopening, the element (42) includes respective axially-extending,circumferentially-facing end surface portions, and the safety means (45)includes a pair of axially-extending radial ribs (45), each rib (45)being circumferentially engageable with an associated end surfaceportion of the element (42) to inhibit movement of the element (42)about the wiper shaft (22) or the bearing housing (24).
 19. Windshieldwiper device (10) according to claim 17, characterized in that theelement (42) is axially compressible with the effect of a force (F) inthe axial direction on the first end (26) of the wiper shaft (22).